Finite Element Analysis of Automotive Disc Brake and Pad in Frictional Model Contact

The purpose of this work is to present a study of the thermomechanical behavior of the automotive disc brake during the braking phase. The first analysis is performed on the disc-pad model without the presence of thermal properties. Structural performance of the disc-pad model such as deformation and Von-Mises stress is predicted. The case of thermoelasticity on the same model with the inclusion of convection, adiabatic and heat flux elements were also studied. The prediction results of temperature distribution, deformation, stress and contact pressure are presented. Furthermore, the structural performances between the two analyses (mechanical and thermomechanical) were compared as well. The results of this investigation may assist brake engineers to choose a suitable analysis in order to critically evaluate structural and contact behaviour of the disc brake assembly.